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Design ideas for a small contemporary back patio in Chicago with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.
Concept 2 Design
Denice Lachapelle
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back patio in Miami with an outdoor kitchen, natural stone paving and a gazebo.
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary back patio in Miami with an outdoor kitchen, natural stone paving and a gazebo.
Exterior Worlds Landscaping & Design
This shade arbor, located in The Woodlands, TX north of Houston, spans the entire length of the back yard. It combines a number of elements with custom structures that were constructed to emulate specific aspects of a Zen garden. The homeowner wanted a low-maintenance garden whose beauty could withstand the tough seasonal weather that strikes the area at various times of the year. He also desired a mood-altering aesthetic that would relax the senses and calm the mind. Most importantly, he wanted this meditative environment completely shielded from the outside world so he could find serenity in total privacy.
The most unique design element in this entire project is the roof of the shade arbor itself. It features a “negative space” leaf pattern that was designed in a software suite and cut out of the metal with a water jet cutter. Each form in the pattern is loosely suggestive of either a leaf, or a cluster of leaves.
These small, negative spaces cut from the metal are the source of the structure’ powerful visual and emotional impact. During the day, sunlight shines down and highlights columns, furniture, plantings, and gravel with a blend of dappling and shade that make you feel like you are sitting under the branches of a tree.
At night, the effects are even more brilliant. Skillfully concealed lights mounted on the trusses reflect off the steel in places, while in other places they penetrate the negative spaces, cascading brilliant patterns of ambient light down on vegetation, hardscape, and water alike.
The shade arbor shelters two gravel patios that are almost identical in space. The patio closest to the living room features a mini outdoor dining room, replete with tables and chairs. The patio is ornamented with a blend of ornamental grass, a small human figurine sculpture, and mid-level impact ground cover.
Gravel was chosen as the preferred hardscape material because of its Zen-like connotations. It is also remarkably soft to walk on, helping to set the mood for a relaxed afternoon in the dappled shade of gently filtered sunlight.
The second patio, spaced 15 feet away from the first, resides adjacent to the home at the opposite end of the shade arbor. Like its twin, it is also ornamented with ground cover borders, ornamental grasses, and a large urn identical to the first. Seating here is even more private and contemplative. Instead of a table and chairs, there is a large decorative concrete bench cut in the shape of a giant four-leaf clover.
Spanning the distance between these two patios, a bluestone walkway connects the two spaces. Along the way, its borders are punctuated in places by low-level ornamental grasses, a large flowering bush, another sculpture in the form of human faces, and foxtail ferns that spring up from a spread of river rock that punctuates the ends of the walkway.
The meditative quality of the shade arbor is reinforced by two special features. The first of these is a disappearing fountain that flows from the top of a large vertical stone embedded like a monolith in the other edges of the river rock. The drains and pumps to this fountain are carefully concealed underneath the covering of smooth stones, and the sound of the water is only barely perceptible, as if it is trying to force you to let go of your thoughts to hear it.
A large piece of core-10 steel, which is deliberately intended to rust quickly, rises up like an arced wall from behind the fountain stone. The dark color of the metal helps the casual viewer catch just a glimpse of light reflecting off the slow trickle of water that runs down the side of the stone into the river rock bed.
To complete the quiet moment that the shade arbor is intended to invoke, a thick wall of cypress trees rises up on all sides of the yard, completely shutting out the disturbances of the world with a comforting wall of living greenery that comforts the thoughts and emotions.
Southview Design
Incorporating the homeowners' love of hills, mountains, and water, this grand fireplace patio would be at home in a Colorado ski resort. The unique firebox border was created from Montana stone and evokes a mountain range. Large format Bluestone pavers bring the steely blue waters of Great Lakes and mountain streams into this unique backyard patio.
KD Landscape
The black fence, black deck and black pergola establish unity for the space.
Small contemporary back patio in Chicago with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.
Small contemporary back patio in Chicago with a fire feature, natural stone paving and a pergola.
New Outlooks Construction
With a grill like that, why wouldn't you want to spend all your time outdoors. Great space to host guests. Make the most of your backyard with a personalized grilling area, seating area, and patio. We used earth tones and plenty of flowers to create an open and inviting outdoor area. Stainless steel appliances complete the look, and make this outdoor area the place to be each summer.
Cording Landscape Design
Custom granite seat walls and firepit with Pennsylvania bluestone cap. Random pattern square cut PA bluestone patio surface. Red Laceleaf Japanese Maple enframes the view.
Alan & Linda Detrick Photography
Melanie Hick Garden Design
A small flat garden in Greenwich gets a modern makeover with 3 social areas and a maze-like path that leads to a secluded sunlounging spot.
Inspiration for a small modern back patio in London.
Inspiration for a small modern back patio in London.
TLC Gardens
The custom steel gate design incorporates the Gallagher family farm emblem, an embedded piece of their heritage in the outdoor experience
This is an example of a large farmhouse back patio in Denver with natural stone paving.
This is an example of a large farmhouse back patio in Denver with natural stone paving.
Ginkgo Leaf Studio
A new arbor and fence creates an entry point into the backyard and main patio.
Renn Kuhnen Photography
Photo of a medium sized rustic courtyard patio in Milwaukee with brick paving.
Photo of a medium sized rustic courtyard patio in Milwaukee with brick paving.
Kevin Clare - Paysagiste
Les nouvelles plantations cadrent les vues sur la ville - en l'occurence la Tour Eiffel
Medium sized rural side patio in Paris with a potted garden, tiled flooring and a pergola.
Medium sized rural side patio in Paris with a potted garden, tiled flooring and a pergola.
Outdoor Dreams
Design ideas for a medium sized traditional back patio in Richmond with a fire feature, concrete paving and no cover.
Designs by Dian Window Treatments
This outdoor living area was a new build and needed protection from the sun. The Sunbrella shading is stationary and attached to the structure with stainless steel hardware. Designs by Dian fabricated and installed the shading. All custom pillows were fabricated by Designs by Dian.
digs inside & out
extension of pool area with a fire pit and comfortable , colorful seating. great outdoor lighting.
Design ideas for a large retro back patio with a fire feature, gravel and no cover.
Design ideas for a large retro back patio with a fire feature, gravel and no cover.
Coats Homes
Photo of a large classic back patio in Dallas with decking, an awning and a fire feature.
Birchwood Construction Company
Inspiration for a large traditional back patio in Other with an outdoor kitchen, concrete slabs and a pergola.
TCP Custom Outdoor Living
Click Photography
Inspiration for a medium sized rustic back patio in Houston with an outdoor kitchen, tiled flooring and a gazebo.
Inspiration for a medium sized rustic back patio in Houston with an outdoor kitchen, tiled flooring and a gazebo.
Suntanium Shading Products, LLC
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary back patio in Other with brick paving and an awning.
Cascade Outdoor Design
Small spaces can provide big challenges. These homeowners wanted to include a lot in their tiny backyard! There were also numerous city restrictions to comply with, and elevations to contend with. The design includes several seating areas, a fire feature that can be seen from the home's front entry, a water wall, and retractable screens.
This was a "design only" project. Installation was coordinated by the homeowner and completed by others.
Photos copyright Cascade Outdoor Design, LLC
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